Igari Tomoka is a girl who uses a wheelchair after being involved in an accident. Interestingly, she is also one of the members of an idol group in Japan! She is actually a member of Kamen Joshi (Masked Girls) group. The unique feature of the particular group would be that all the team members wear masks even on stage. There are 4 separate teams within the Kamen Joshi group and she belongs to a team called the Steam Girls. They are really well-known to perform with their gas masks and dance while firing their steam guns in the air.
She has been someone who always looked up to a popular Japanese idol group called Morning Musume. She really admired them. While she was looking for a job, she wondered what she really wanted to do. She then realized that it was the last chance she could try out to be an idol.
The first time she applied to her current talent agency, she failed to pass the selection process. However, the agency had an ‘apprenticeship’ system that allowed failed candidates to gradually build their fanbase by writing blogs and working at maid cafes and eventually register with the agency once they achieved a certain amount of fame. So, she then joined it. She getting her name out there by working at a maid cafe and performing in some gigs and 5 months later, the agency finally signed her up.
As for her current condition, she cannot move her lower body at all. It is numb to sensations like hot and cold. She received rehabilitation, not to be able to move again but to maintain her ability to carry out activities for her daily living. The accident that happened to her was on a very windy day, almost like a typhoon in the month of April 2018. She was on her way to a dance class. The, strong wind knocked a billboard off and it just fell and crushed her. That is when her spinal cord snapped.
She felt anxious before she would ruin the team when she rejoined with a wheelchair. When she was hospitalized, each of the group members took the time to visit her once a month even on a tight schedule. When she made her comeback, she initially struggled to dance along with the rest of the group. But everyone was very supportive in helping her readjust. They also helped her change outfits backstage.
In the past, she could not stop herself from publicly displaying feelings of anger and sadness. But after a point of realization, she focused on showing her positive and happy side to her fans. After her injury, she worked hard not to be sad in front of others. She wants to normalize how a woman in a wheelchair can be part of everyday life because wheelchair users face many barriers in Japan today. By showing how she is able to blend in with everyone else, she hopes to reduce the stigma that affects many wheelchair users today.
She decided to move forward and then was able to experience much happiness and joy. She thinks that if you look forward and stay positive, you will be faced with happy moments, so she encourages everyone else to stay positive even in hard times.
Sources: YouTube Asian Boss.